Dnipro Day 2018: Results of campaign for P-free detergents

On 7th of July a large-scale, emotional celebration of Dnipro Day took place in Kyiv. It was also the time to share the results of the social media campaign aimed at prevention of the Dnipro blossoming by blue-green algae.

Some background: The “blooming” of the Dnipro River is due to excessive growth of blue-green algae in the water. One of the main reasons for this is the use of phosphorus-containing detergents that are banned in EU countries but are still used in Ukraine. The content of phosphorus compounds in the Dnipro Basin and the Dnipro reservoirs is 0.38-0.44 mg/l compared to 0.2 mg/l in clean water. This may kill fish through suffocation and affect human health through toxins.

On June 1 EUWI+ jointly with Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine and State Agency of Water Resources launched the public campaign on social media in order to support selection of P-free detergents. A number of infographics and cartoon https://www.facebook.com/EUDelegationUkraine/videos/1914732781904674/?t=5 were developed and shared mainly via social media. The materials got widely reposted.

In the same time, the competition “My favorite detergent is P-free” was announced, raiding a discussion in social media regarding detergents, their quality and effects for environment.

Results:

In figures, more than 57,000 people watched the cartoon, more than 24,000 read infographics.

Large discussion in social networks and media regarding detergents and their impact on Dnipro “blooming”. A number of myths were identified and successfully ruined (see infographics).

Development of P-free detergents catalogue based on availability and preferences of the people.